A sheriff's deputy pulled over a vehicle for speeding at 2:45 p.m. Friday on U.S. 290 near Brenham. Officers found drug paraphernalia and small amount of marijuana, and arrested Richardson and the driver, Gary Keife, 20, also of Kingwood, investigators said.

"As soon as they got in the sally port at the (Washington County) Jail, they noted that she looked a little bit ill and was starting to shake," Petrash said. "They asked what she took, and she admitted to swallowing a baggie of meth."

Richardson was rushed to Scott & White Hospital-Brenham. Results of an autopsy are pending at the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office.

The sheriff's office reported the death to the Texas Rangers, which by law investigates all fatalities that occur while someone is in custody. The investigation is ongoing.

"We're never going to know why she swallowed it (methamphetamine)," Petrash said. "It's just tragic."